Archive for August, 2010

BLANCO HYDRA offers performance + water savings

BLANCO introduces the new water-saving HYDRA – which conserves 30% more water than conventional faucets. HYDRA offers an optimal mix of high performance and water-savings, delivering a constant flow rate at 1.5 GPM. Elegant, yet inviting, this exclusive European design features a high-arc spout, decorative loop handle and flexible pull-out spray. HYDRA is also AB1953 Lead Free.

“BLANCO’s efforts for the protection of the environment go far beyond developing innovative products like our new HYDRA faucet,” says Tim Maicher, Director of Marketing for BLANCO. “We believe that our overall focus must be sustainable and intensive beyond any legally required standard. To achieve this goal, we use the latest energy-saving exhaust air technology, returning heat energy back to the production process. Water consumption in our overall process was reduced 50% by installing water-cooling technology, and we continue to reduce production scrap by  using the highest quality raw materials, computer-controlled mixing machines, optimized processes and production facilities. We also do not use CFC- and CHC-chasteners. In addition, we have proudly achieved a permanent and significant reduction of oil consumption and CO₂ emission in our facilities and we purposefully purchase from ecological evaluated suppliers.”

BLANCO’s HYDRA faucet is made from the most durable materials available. Solid brass body construction anchors the finely-tuned inner workings, from the long-lasting ceramic disc cartridge to the flexible and convenient pull-out spray hose. Matching soap/lotion dispensers are offered.

-       Reach 10-1/4″, Spout Height 12″, Faucet Height 14-3/8″

-       Retails for $450 in polished chrome and $595 in satin nickel

Here’s the hottest buzz – from the latest BLANCO designs featured in leading magazines. BLANCO sinks and faucets are an essential ingredient for a well-designed kitchen.

A stunning BLANCO PERFORMA and MASTER GOURMET faucet as featured in California Home & Design Magazine.

A BLANCO SILGRANIT sink and MERIDIAN faucet as featured in This Old House magazine.

BLANCO is a key element for this multi-purpose kitchen as featured in Kitchen Trends.

LINUS shown with the RONIS entertainment sink

An elegant play of geometric shapes, the new BLANCO LINUS faucet offers classic contemporary styling with a single function pull-out spray, multi-directional lever and a high arc spout that swivels 360 degrees to effortlessly fill pots, pans and vases. In addition, this sturdy, well-constructed faucet complies with lead-free statutes and is offered in Satin Nickel or Polished Chrome. BLANCO designers also offer LINUS in Anthracite or Café Brown to coordinate beautifully with SILGRANIT^® II sinks. All this… and it’s only $425-$475 retail.

“No where else could you buy a professional quality faucet like this for such a great value,” says Tim Maicher, Director of Marketing for BLANCO. “BLANCO LINUS offers the best of all worlds – it’s got the look, the European construction and the pro functionality. It’s like buying a high performance BMW at economy car prices. We literally wanted to shock the industry. This is the real deal. A genuine faucet at an attainable price,” he adds.

BLANCO LINUS faucets are made from some of the highest quality materials available. Solid brass body construction anchors the finely tuned inner workings, from long-lasting ceramic disc cartridges to the flexible and convenient pull-out spray hoses. Matching soap/lotion dispensers are offered.

-       2.2 GPM flow rate

-       Reversible mounting hardware adapts to thick or thin

mounting surfaces

-       Color-coded hot & cold supply lines

-       Double spiral flexible pull-out spray hose

-       Reach 8-1/2″, Spout Height 9-3/4″, Faucet Height 11″

BLANCO recently surveyed over 60 designers and showroom managers on the most important features for selecting a kitchen sink. The number one feature is shape, then size, followed by durability and clean-ability. Surprisingly, price is last. Industry research supports this opinion as well. Consumers are looking for the long haul. Elements that are customized for their style (not for resale), that will hold up and be easy to maintain long term. While consumer actions support that price is an important factor, price is not the only feature in consideration. Both consumers and designers will not sacrifice quality for a low price.

The ARCON double bowl is a popular shape among designers.

What shape(s) do designers own?

We then went a step further and asked design professionals what shape sink they have at home. Interestingly, they were a mixed bag between equal doubles, super singles and 1-3/4 bowl designs. A few of the designers actually apologized for having double bowls, blaming it directly on their partner, i.e. “my spouse chose it.” Double bowls are attractive because they are familiar and comfortable. One designer elaborated, “Many of our clients still insist on the double bowls… it’s the mindset that they grew up with something or have always had something a particular way, and they just can’t imagine changing certain ways. ”

What to look for in a double sink?

Designers advised looking for depth in a good double sink. Some use the double sink for prep on one side and cleaning on the other. Or as some designers stated – a dirty dish side and a clean dish side. There were comments however, that led us to believe that doubles – while still strong – may be going out of favor along with disposals. But like upright vacuums and stainless steel kitchen appliances – this trend may hang on for a long time. Most designers use their sinks for cleaning or both cleaning and prep work. So the dirty-side /clean-side concept is one that’s going to be hard to let go of. Shifting to 1-3/4 designs vs. a direct shift to singles is becoming popular as a smaller prep bowl can be used for cleaning while the larger bowl can be used for drying/stacking.

SILGRANIT's clean-ability and durability fit today's design trends.

Pre-Rinsing Before Loading – A No-No but Still Doing it.

When we delved deeper into the double sink story, we learned that while designers understand they shouldn’t pre-rinse dishes before they go into a dishwasher, (because according to Energy Star, pre-rinsing wastes up to 20 gallons of water per load), admittedly, many still rinse first. About half the surveyed group confessed to rinsing first before loading, while only 10 designers firmly stated they scrape and load right into the dishwasher. Reasons for the wasteful rinsing spree ranged from not running the dishwasher daily to once again blaming the spouse, i.e.  “Depends on who is cleaning up?  I am trying to get everyone to put dirty dishes directly into the dishwasher.  Doesn’t always work.”

Two Sinks? Or Marriage Therapy? You Decide.

So the sink – apparently – is a topic for heated household discussion and marital therapy sessions. And why not? It’s the workhorse of the kitchen. A highly functional element that because of its daily use and abuse must not only be attractive, but must fit the user’s personal style. And if the users differ in their style – perhaps we should see a trend toward two sink kitchens. He gets the single, she gets the double. Like a two car garage, everyone’s needs are satisfied and sink bliss will follow.